CHARLOTE, N.C — There are dozens of moving parts when it comes to a cross-country road trip for Cal basketball.
Hotels, airfare, adjusting to new time zones and team dinners all are accounted for during long road trips. But what happens when a student-athlete, during their season, has to take fasting into account as well?
That’s a small look at what Cal basketball center Mady Sissoko’s life is like this month.
Sissoko wakes up early enough to eat and drink water before the fasting window begins, then participates in all his scheduled activities with the Golden Bears and breaks his fast right on time. It’s a strict schedule, but one he chooses to follow everyday.
Even in the midst of a double overtime battle against Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament.
“It’s a commitment,” Sissoko said. “I believe in my faith and nothing’s going to stop me from doing that.”
The Ramadan window is from sun up to sun down, where practicing Muslims won’t eat or drink anything during that time. The window closed around 7 p.m. on March 11, right in the middle of California’s game against Virginia Tech.
En route to the second round, Sissoko scored 12 points and collected 10 boards to help send California to the second round for a battle against No. 7 seed Stanford all while participating in Ramadan.
In the last two games, Cal basketball has played a combined six overtimes. Four rounds of free basketball closed out its season while playing Notre Dame, and the remaining two against Virginia Tech. Sissoko was fasting for both games.
“It’s almost as if his game has continued — as he dials in on the spiritual and emotional side, it’s almost like his game continues to just take off and take off,” California head coach Mark Madsen said. “I don’t know how he does it.”
Sissoko broke his fast during a media timeout in the middle of the second overtime — he sipped on a little bit of water while listening to Madsen in the huddle.
Cal’s Mady Sissoko is fasting for Ramadan. He was able to break his fast in double OT.
He finished with 12 PTS and 10 REBS in @CalMBBall‘s win over Virginia Tech 👏 pic.twitter.com/0dLaHg7pEs
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) March 11, 2025
The effort was worth it. For just the second time, a 15 seed reached the second round of the ACC Tournament. The Golden Bears beat the odds in their first conference tournament, with Sissoko putting up a late block and playing clean basketball for five minutes with four fouls.
“He’s been huge for us,” California guard Andrej Stokajovic said. “We support him fully with everything he’s going through. You know, March is a tough season for everybody and the physicality and energy he brings this late in the season is very motivating for us.”
Sissoko said that even though his body has been recovering like normal while playing during Ramadan, the time difference has been a bit harder to adjust to. In addition to a three-hour jump into Eastern Standard Time, the Golden Bears were on the East Coast when Daylight Savings hit two days ago.
But Sissoko is dedicated to practicing his faith and the team.
“It’s super inspiring how he pushes through,” Stojakovic said.
Having the support of his coaches and teammates has helped make the experience easier for Sissoko. Even when his energy level increases after playing over 35 minutes of basketball, Sissoko said he’s felt the balance between his love for basketball and his desire to uphold Islamic practices blend together seamlessly.
“To do something like this, you have to have support,” Sissoko said. “They’re doing a great, great job with everything — making sure I have my food every morning and after I break my fast. The support has been great.”
California plays familiar rival Stanford in the second round of the conference tournament. Madsen, who knows exactly what to expect out of the Cardinals, also understands one other thing.
Sissoko’s determination is helping propel California through its first bout in the ACC Tournament, and it’s possible the opening round won’t be the only game where the starting center can step up to the plate.
“Everyone else on the court gets tired, and his energy just increases, increases, and increases,” Madsen said. “It shows his discipline, his will, who he is as a person, and how great of a basketball player Mady Sissoko is.”